Christie facing fight from Democrats on hospital financial disclosure

Ranking Democrats in the state Legislature intend to attempt overriding a condition veto by Gov. Chris Christie of legislation stepping-up financial disclosure requirements of for-profit hospitals.

None of the Republican governor’s prior vetoes of bills have been turned back, but Sen. Loretta Weinberg said Thursday the proposal to require financial transparency from hospitals as a condition for receiving charity-care payments from the state is worth fighting for.

“I’m an eternal optimist,’’ Weinberg said of the changes that Republican lawmakers can be swayed to buck the governor. “He’s not yet the czar and not yet the king.’’

In his conditional veto, Christie wants to give Health Commissioner Mary O’Dowd six months to study the issue and make a recommendation.
Proponents of the bill say it’s unlikely a study by O’Dowd, a Christie appointee, will lead to a new law. Seven of the 72 hospitals in the state are in the hands of for-profit companies. The hosptials held by non-profits already comply with greater financial disclosure rules.